There is alot of debate about Hinduism vs Buddhism that which religion stands out to be better.In India, Buddhism is considered a part of Hindu tradition because Buddha never said I am starting a new religion.He was just not happy with the existing system at that point of time.Then he only reformed what was already in existence.
Siddhartha Gautama, started out as a Hindu became a monk in the Hindu tradition and then he shared the path to monkhood with everybody. He never discarded the Gods or Goddesses. He put the enlightened being first which is Buddha, which was already how it was. because of this reason Buddhism is often referred to as an off-shoot of Hinduism.
Buddha, was born in a wealthy Indian Family and he was the prince of the Kingdom of Lumbini.It is believed that he was born in Hindu Family but when he was growing he was sad to see pain and grief in his kingdom and around him.Post these observations it is believed that the young Siddhartha Gautama led a very sheltered life.
Leaving all the glories,emotions and the treasure of the palace, he came across a sick man, an old man, a dead man, and an ascetic (or in more Western terms, a monk).
Seeing the suffering around him men, Gautama traveled every part of India studying under Hindu priests. He interacted with many communties cast and creeds and he felt they lacked the answers he asked.He wanted to know every aspects of life in details. Then he turned his life into to a life of asceticism, or extreme self discipline . He did all this till the point of starvation and hoped this may bring him to enlightenment.
In Hinduism there is a famous and eternal mantra we chant, Guru Brahma, Gurur Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheshwaraha, Guru Saakshat Para Brahma, Tasmai Sree Gurave Namaha.
The meaning of this mantra is that Guru is First to be worshipped.
While in Buddhist scripture the same thing is written ,just Instead of Guru, he said Buddha. Buddha means an enlightened person.
In Karnataka, India, all Gurus are regarded as Buddhi. In any ashram or any spiritual place Guru is called as Buddhi in Karnatka.If you go to any ashram and say Buddhi, you will be addressing a Guru.
Now lets see Hinduism Vs Buddhism comparison in Table form
| Hinduism | Buddhism | |
|---|---|---|
| Practices | Hindu practices include rituals such as puja (worship) and recitations, japa, meditation (dhyāna), family-oriented rites of passage, annual festivals, and occasional pilgrimages. | Meditation, To Obey Eightfold Path, pilgrimages |
| Place of origin | Indian Subcontinent | Indian subcontinent |
| Belief of God | Infinite Gods and Dieties but the core is Brahman. | The idea of an omniscient, omnipotent, |
| Life after death | Salvation and Reincarnation | Rebirth is one of the central beliefs of Buddhism. We are in an endless cycle of birth, death and re-birth, which can only be broken by attaining nirvana. Attaining nirvana is the only way to escape suffering permanently. |
| Use of statues and pictures | Yes(Not Compulsory) | Yes(Not Compulsory) |
| Marriage | Man may marry one woman. However, kings in mythology often married more than one woman. | It is not a religious duty to marry. Monks and nuns do not marry and are celibate. Advice in the Discourses on how to maintain a happy and harmonious marriage. |
| Place of worship | Temple (Mandir) | Buddhist monasteries, temples, shrines. |
| Founder | Its not a religion,its main idea is oneness with every living organism. | The Buddha (born as Prince Siddhartha) |
| Clergy | No official clergy. Gurus, Yogis, Rishis, Brahmins, Pundits, priests, priestesses, monks, and nuns. | The Buddhist Sangha, composed of bhikkhus (male monks) and bhikkhunis (female nuns). The sangha is supported by lay Buddhists. |
| Means of salvation | Reaching enlightenment by the Path of Knowledge, the Path of devotion, or the Path of Good Deeds. | Reaching Enlightenment or Nirvana, following the Noble Eightfold Path. |
| View of the Buddha | A Monk which is worshipped in Hinduism also. | The highest teacher and the founder of Buddhism, the all-transcending sage. |
| Followers | Hindus | Buddhists |
| Goal of religion | To break the cycle of birth, death and reincarnation, and attain salvation. | To attain enlightenment and be released from the cycle of rebirth and death, thus attaining Nirvana. |
| Original Language(s) | Sanskrit | Pali(Theravada tradition) and Sanskrit(Mahayana and Vajrayana tradition) |
| View of other Dharmic religions | Hindus implies that Buddhists, Jains, & Sikhs are the part of Sanatan Dharma Hinduism (which is the original Dharmic religion). | Since the word Dharma means doctrine, law, way, teaching, or discipline, other Dharmas are rejected. |
| Holy days/Official Holidays | Diwali, Holi, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, etc. | Vesak day in which the birth, the awakening, and the parinirvana of the Buddha is celebrated. |
| Population | 1 Billion. | 500-600 million |
| Scriptures | Vedas, Upanishad, Puranas, Gita,Strotra,Katha,Chalisa, Mantra's etc | Tripitaka - a vast canon composed of 3 sections: the Discourses, the Discipline and the Commentaries, and some early scriptures, such as the Gandhara texts. |
| Symbols | Om, Swastika, etc. | The conch, endless knot, fish, lotus, parasol, vase, dharmachakra (Wheel of Dharma), and victory banner. |
| Confessing sins | Repentance for unintentional sins are prescribed, but intentional sins have to be repaid through karmic consequences. | Sin is not a Buddhist concept. |
| Goal of Philosophy | Salvation, freedom from the cycle of birth and reincarnation. | To eliminate mental suffering. |
| Geographical distribution and predominance | Mainly in India, Nepal and Mauritius. Has significant population in Fiji, Bhutan, UAE, etc. | (Majority or strong influence) Mainly in Thailand, Cambodia, Sri lanka, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Japan, Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Vietnam, China, Mongolia, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Other small minorities exist in other countries. |
| Religious Law | Dharma shastras | The Dharma. |
| Place and Time of origin | Indian Subcontinent, beginning with the Vedic civilization circa 3000 BC | The origin of Buddhism points to one man, Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha, who was born in Lumbini (in present-day Nepal). He became enlightened at Bodhgaya, India and delivered his first set of teachings at a deer park in Sarnath, India. |
| Status of Vedas | Vedas are generally regarded as sacred in Hinduism. Post-Vedic texts like the Gita are also revered. | The Buddha rejected the 5 Vedas, according to the dialogues seen in the nikayas. |
| Status of women | Women can become priestesses or nuns. Women are given equal 0 rights as men. | No distinctions between men and women. Women are equal to men, and men are equal to women in the Sangha. The Buddha gave Men and Women equal rights and a major part in the Sangha. |
| Time of origin | No Certain Timeline | 2,500 years ago, circa 563 B.C.E. (Before Common Era) |
| Can atheists partake in this religion's practices? | Yes. | Yes. |
| Views on Other Religions | No Such views on other relgions because Core comnecpt is karma for all living beings. Beliefs vary. Some believe that all spiritual paths lead to the same God | Being a practical philosophy, Buddhism is neutral against other religions. |
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